Vehicle Number Plate Recognition Illuminator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for recognizing vehicle number plates, especially at night, require high illuminance from infrared light-emitting devices, leading to heat generation, reduced lifespan, and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that adjust shutter opening time and illuminator intensity based on ambient illuminance and vehicle speed, allowing for image capture without the need for maximum illuminance, using multiple cameras and sensors to optimize image capture and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If highest illuminance is applied to the illuminator for night photography, then the camera can capture image frames of the vehicle that has entered at night, but the illuminator generates heat, gets out of order frequently, has shortened lifetime, and increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminator operates in two modes: night mode with high illuminance when ambient light is insufficient, and daytime mode with low or no illuminance when ambient light is sufficient. The system dynamically switches between modes based on detected ambient illuminance levels, optimizing both image capture quality and illuminator longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illuminance parameter of the illuminator based on detected ambient illuminance and vehicle speed. Instead of maintaining constant high illuminance, the illuminator's output is adjusted dynamically - using high illuminance only when necessary for night photography, and reducing or eliminating illuminance during daytime or when ambient light is sufficient.
2Illumination intensity
If highest illuminance is applied to the illuminator for night photography, then the camera can capture image frames of the vehicle that has entered at night, but power consumption of the illuminator is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminator operates in two modes: night mode with high illuminance when ambient light is insufficient, and daytime mode with low or no illuminance when ambient light is sufficient. The system dynamically switches between modes based on detected ambient illuminance levels, optimizing both image capture quality and illuminator longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illuminance parameter of the illuminator based on detected ambient illuminance and vehicle speed. Instead of maintaining constant high illuminance, the illuminator's output is adjusted dynamically - using high illuminance only when necessary for night photography, and reducing or eliminating illuminance during daytime or when ambient light is sufficient.
3Manufacturing precision
If shutter opening time is set to be inversely proportional to the speed of the moving object, then clear images can be captured of moving vehicles, but the system complexity increases due to speed detection and dynamic parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The first image capturer serves multiple functions: it detects vehicle entry, determines vehicle speed by counting captured frames, and triggers the second image capturer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the first image capturer's vehicle speed determination to dynamically adjust the shutter opening time and illuminator settings of the second image capturer. This closed-loop control ensures optimal image quality while adapting to varying vehicle speeds without requiring complex manual calibration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach prevents frequent failures and extends the lifespan of illuminators by reducing heat generation and power consumption, while ensuring clear images of moving vehicles without the need for constant high illuminance.
Implementation Method 1
An apparatus for recognizing a number plate of a vehicle used in searching for a vehicle, that is subject to investigation or controlling overspending of a vehicle, recognizes numbers marked in the number plate of a vehicle after entry of the vehicle is detected. A camera for recognizing a number plate includes an illuminator such as an infrared light-emitting device for night photography.
Implementation Method 2
capturing, by an image capturer, image frames of the moving object according to at least one of a shutter opening time of the image capturer and an illuminance of an illuminator to illuminate the moving object
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for recognizing information included in an image, e.g., a license plate number of a vehicle image. The method includes: detecting an ambient illuminance and determining a speed of a moving object; capturing, by an image capturer, image frames of the moving object according to at least one of a shutter opening time of the image capturer and an illuminance of an illuminator to illuminate the moving object which are set based on the detected ambient illuminance and the determined speed of the moving object; and extracting information of the moving object from the captured image frames.